Football shocked at player stabbing

12 April 2012

Football bosses have spoken of their shock after a Premiership player was stabbed in both legs in a violent attack.

West Ham's Calum Davenport and his 49-year-old mother remained in a stable condition in hospital following the incident in Bedford.

Two men arrested after the 5am attack outside the 26-year-old's mother's home are still being questioned by police.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola said the club was "very very sorry" to hear what had happened, and added he was relieved the player was in a stable condition.

Speaking after a match between West Ham and Davenport's former club, Tottenham Hotspur, Mr Zola said: "We're very sorry about what happened. It's a terrible story. We can't imagine what he has been through in these moments. The doctor told me that the situation is stable, he is okay. The situation will be clearer in the next few days. Now it's important that he's all right.

"It was unbelievable. We didn't believe it when we heard. You don't expect things like this to happen, especially to people you know. We are very, very sorry."

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who was Davenport's boss at Southampton earlier in his career, described the player as "lovely and inoffensive".

He said: "I know Calum. I had him on loan - a lovely lad, inoffensive and it's really sad to see what's happened to him and his mum. Hopefully they'll pull through and be okay. You couldn't meet a brighter, more laid back lad than him."

The footballer, who was a multi-million pound signing and an England Under-21 international, underwent emergency surgery .

Bedfordshire Police said a 25-year-old man was arrested in Derby on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to Bedford for questioning. A spokeswoman for the force said a 19-year-old man arrested soon after the incident remained in custody at the town's Greyfriars police station.

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